NCAA BK

Louisville Getting Inside

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Updated Dec 4, 2009 10:02 AM ET
     
 
Rick Pitino's Cardinals lost just once in the season's first month, but it was that 76-71 defeat at UNLV that gave the team the best information on what the battle plan would be for December.

Louisville is a deep but inexperienced team. The Cardinals have an 11-man rotation, but eight are freshmen or sophomores. Those players have been tested in practice, but many entered the regular season without the experience of playing against an athletic and physical team that could take the ball right at them.

That showed against the Rebels, who led by 19 points in the second half. But the Cardinals showed some moxie as well, coming all the way back to tie the game on two occasions before eventually falling by five.

This is a common theme in recent Louisville history. Pitino likes to challenge his team early in the season, even if it leads to losses and a drop in the rankings. The big goals are to do well in the Big East and be running on all cylinders in March. A game like the one at UNLV helps everyone see how far they have left to travel before the conference schedule.

The memory will have to last the team through the holidays. December is a dessert-filled month for the Cardinals, with every game at home and none against a major conference opponent until South Florida arrives to open the Big East season on Dec. 30.

That will be when Pitino hopes to have a better handle on his rotation as he determines which players will be getting crunch-time minutes.
Tagged: Louisville

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